Giselle Bündchen went for the gold (dress) for the Rio 2016 Olympic Ceremony.
For nearly 20 years, supermodel Gisele Bündchen has walked the most exclusive high fashion runways around the world. But just a year after announcing her retirement, Gisele dusted off her 6-inch heels for a history-making strut down the longest runway in the world during the first Olympic games ever hosted in South America.
Gisele Bündchen has already hit innumerable milestones in her double decade career as the highest-paid model in the world. But now, she can officially say she’s done it all. For the Olympic opening ceremony, which took place in her home country of Brazil, the iconic bombshell radiated as she walked the .7 mile runway in front of 78,000 attendees and over 3 million viewers. She shined brighter than any gold medal in a stunning, custom-made mesh sequin piece created by Brazilian designer Alexandre Herchcovitch.
In preparation for her big moment, Gisele met with Brazilian designer Alexandre Herchcovitch four times to complete fittings and make adjustments on the dress she’d wear for the iconic moment. The fabric used was specially created for the occasion to ensure that the shimmer of her dress was just right. “Gisele knows exactly what looks good on her and what doesn’t, which makes the job much more objective and accurate. She was always present in the process. She gave important opinions, and we thought about the parts together,” Herchcovitch said of the designing process.
The opening ceremony for the Rio 2016 Olympics diverted from the futuristic, technology-focused themes that have recently dominated the event. Evoking a celebratory yet socially conscious message that displayed resilience amid internal problems the country has faced in recent years , the opening ceremony gave us a poignant and simplistic close up of the natural beauty the country has to offer. The breathtaking view of Brazilian gem Gisele Bündchen floating across what could possibly be the last runway of her career was the perfect way to convey the country’s worldwide cultural impact. Bündchen was undeniably elated to represent her country in such a major way, donning a look of sheer pride and joy as she graced the ceremony with her signature walk. She also expressed her sheer excitement just hours before on Instagram.
“This is a very special moment for my country and I am humbled that they invited me to be a part of such a special celebration.”
After completing her show stopping strut down the runway, Gisele joined the crowd to revel in the Olympic celebration. She let loose with a group of attendees wearing a long sleeve mini version of her custom Alexandre Herchcovitch dress. The fun yet functional remix of her elegant runway dress seems perfectly fitting for the joyful moment of celebration she shared with fans in honor of her home country.
